LOS ANGELES, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The truth will soon no longer be out there.

"The X-Files," the Emmy-winning sci-fi drama that thrust two federal agents into spooky paranormal situations, will end its nine-season run on the Fox television network in May, Daily Variety reported in its Thursday edition.

Series creator Chris Carter decided to pull the plug on the show, whose ratings have been hurt this season by the departure of star David Duchovny and by tougher competition.

"It's the ninth inning. We want to go out on top," the trade paper quoted Carter as saying. "We wanted to go out as a strong show."

[Me here: Yeah, RIGHT. If you'd wanted that you'd have closed it down 3 years ago...*shakes head*]

Carter hoped Duchovny would return as Special Agent Fox Mulder for the two-part series finale opposite Gillian Anderson's Agent Dana Scully. Both actors, whose mutual off-screen antipathy was well documented, are on board for a sequel to the 1998 "X-Files" feature.

Duchovny phased out his involvement in the series last season, and former "Terminator 2" co-star Robert Patrick was drafted in as Agent John Doggett.

"The X-Files" premiered in September 1993 on the Fox network, which is part of News Corp's (NCP.AX) (NWS.N) Fox Entertainment Group (FOX.N) unit. Its cult hit status soon snowballed into mainstream success, and the show won 15 Emmy Awards over the years, including an acting prize for Anderson.

Although ratings were off this season, with the show ranking No. 72 out of 162, it remains a strong performer in syndication.

Comments

I stopped watching when David Duchovny left the show. However, I have always liked Robert Patrick and was glad to hear he had gotten a role in X-Files. I also Jillian Anderson's career can survive past her character and the X-Files franchise.